Back Again For Suggestions

SteeleJester

Been abusing you guys for suggestions, and I'm back again. As I'm new to this whole HT thing, I just recently found out that I can run 7.1 on my VSX-822 with an external amp through the preout and now I've got the need (or want) to do such. My intention is to have front highs rather than surround backs. This is what I have in mind.

What I have now:
-VSX-822
-CSi A4
-Polk T15s (L/R)
-SW8-MK2
-(2) old cubes I had laying for surrounds

This is what I'm about to pull the trigger on. Any improvements/suggestions?
-RTi4s used on Amazon for $120 (Move these to L/R. Will it match well with the A4 center?)
-Lepai 2020A+ (Have this run the T15s for now as the front highs. Will this little amp work for such?)

Ultimately end up here:
-CSi A4
-RTi A5 (L/R)
-RTi4s (front highs)
-FXi A4 (surrounds)

Coherent plan as far as speakers are concerned?

tonyb

I don't believe that receiver has pre-outs to run an external amp.....not that you need one with those speakers anyway.

SteeleJester

From the owner's manual. As far as I know I would need one to run a 7.1 through it.

rpf65

Looking at where you would like your HT system to end up, I would probably suggest you pass on those RTI4's. Not that there is anything wrong with them, but I would suggest you save for either the RTI A1's or A3's. It would be more of a compliment to your system in the finished stages. Actually I would probably purchase the A5's before any of the others, you already have the CSI A4, so concentrate of the front 3 first.

I started my personal little system with the RTI A1/CSI A4 speakers first, and then added the RTI A5. Just got a pretty good price on the A1's, and they sounded pretty good. They're now at rear surround duty, so it worked out pretty well.

As far as the pre-out goes. again I would hold off on that. No sense in adding speakers, just to add them. Get the front 3 right, at the beginning, then the surrounds. A good, timbre matched, 3 channel system will sound better than a mismatched 5 channel.

SteeleJester

Is the price difference between the A1s and RTi4s worth it?

rpf65

SteeleJester wrote: »

Is the price difference between the A1s and RTi4s worth it?

Used RTI 4's used for $120 from Amazon, or RTI A1's for $220 from Polk E-bay, I would personally say yes. They have the A3's for @285, just throwing that out there. No telling what condition those used speakers are in, but the Polk E-bay site is factory refurbs or open box. I personally would spend the extra $100, but then again I'm a little leary of the used market on certain items, especially if I can't see them in person.